By John Q. Hosedrinker The shooter in the Grand Blanc Township church attack, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was an Iraq war veteran and former Marine. Sanford, who fatally shot at least four people before being killed by police, also set the church ablaze. Authorities have confirmed the attack as targeted violence but have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting. Evidence suggests Sanford had supported Donald Trump, as he was seen wearing Trump campaign apparel in 2019 and a Trump-Pence sign was displayed at his home.
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Mormon church gunman was Marine ‘who supported Trump.’ It’s a phrase that, unfortunately, is becoming all too familiar. The news of a shooting at a Mormon church, perpetrated by a former Marine, quickly spread, but it was the additional details that began to paint a troubling picture: this individual was a supporter of Donald Trump.
The immediate reaction, often seen in these situations, was a scramble to control the narrative. Some, particularly on social media, started to spread rumors, potentially attempting to link the shooter to radicalized Islamic terrorism. This reflects a pattern of desperate attempts to portray the shooter as something other than what he seemed to be: a right-wing extremist. The unfortunate truth is that this act of violence, like many others in recent years, appears to be a case of domestic terrorism, fueled by a specific ideology.
It’s not surprising to predict how certain segments of the media and political figures might react. There’s a strong likelihood that the incident will be downplayed or reframed to avoid assigning blame to the right-wing political climate. The shooter’s support for Trump will likely be glossed over, if even mentioned, and instead, there will be an emphasis on finding an alternative explanation. This can involve blaming external factors, like the victims themselves, or the church, or even some connection to a transgender individual, attempting to create a diversion.
Evidence already points towards a strong alignment with the MAGA movement. A photo from 2019 surfaced, showing the Marine wearing a camouflage Trump 2020 campaign shirt, emblazoned with the phrase “Make Liberals Cry Again.” The details about his vehicle being covered in MAGA insignia further solidify this connection. It’s difficult to ignore the clear political affiliation of the shooter. And, sadly, this aligns with a disturbing trend: the majority of politically motivated mass shootings are committed by individuals with right-wing extremist views.
The cycle is almost predictable: conservatives will express concern about violence but will be slow to address the roots of the problem within their own ranks. Meanwhile, those on the right will deny the connection to their political ideology and perhaps even try to paint the shooter as something he was not. It’s disheartening, but this kind of denial is almost a given.
The incident has unfortunately become the latest example of the ongoing problem. The frequency of mass shootings, and the prevalence of right-wing extremism in their commission, is deeply troubling. The reaction to these tragedies is often the same, characterized by predictable responses, including calls for thoughts and prayers, but a lack of real action to address the underlying issues.
There is a strong sense that these events are increasing in frequency. The constant drumbeat of this kind of violence is taking its toll on society, and people are looking for answers. The rise of extremism, especially on the right, appears to be a key factor. There is a clear comparison to historical periods marked by political violence. The feeling of the “Years of Lead,” when both left and right-wing extremists employed violence against each other, is becoming palpable.
The focus should remain on addressing the root causes of this violence, rather than assigning blame. The question isn’t whether the shooter’s actions are representative of all conservatives, but why this kind of violence is becoming so frequent and why these perpetrators are increasingly being linked to right-wing ideologies.
Some find the narrative of veterans being radicalized especially concerning. In their view, it has been only a few years since the public started to forget their obligations to those who have served, and perhaps this neglect is adding fuel to the fire.
Speculation about the motivations of the shooter will surely follow, including those seeking to associate the Marine with a transgender individual in the hopes of distracting from the shooter’s clear MAGA affiliation. However, such speculation will be unlikely to yield anything meaningful in terms of understanding the root of the shooter’s actions.
The usual suspects are, once again, implicated. The right-wing gun worship, an unhealthy obsession with violence, is likely a strong factor. In the face of this, Republicans will likely move the goalposts, attempting to deflect and deny any responsibility.
The core issue, one that’s becoming increasingly clear, is a culture that glorifies violence. The question remains, what will it take for the elected officials to take meaningful action and address the root cause of this violence? The solution is to do something.